Vegetarian Sandwich Ideas: How To Make The Best Meat-Free Lunches And Dinners

I'm coming up on my 20th year of vegetarianism, and during that time, it has become a lot easier to live meat-free, with restaurants from fast-food joints to high-end eateries offering more veg-based fare. Part of the reason is that many people are eating less meat than ever before, even if they aren't quite vegetarian. Meatless Mondays, or being a Weekend Carnivore (eating vegetarian during the workweek) are some of the ways people are cutting back.

Whether you are a part-time or full-time veggie, vegetable sandwiches are an emerging art form. I eat a veggie sandwich four to five days a week for either lunch or dinner, and here's what I've learned.

How to build the perfect vegetarian sandwich

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Start With Great Bread

Of course this goes for any sandwich. A fresh loaf of French bread is always a great base, but if you want some fiber or protein, look for sprouted grains, stone-ground whole wheat, and add-ins like sunflower seeds, poppy seeds or sesame seeds. Always opt for organic if you have the option. I recently went gluten-free, so I'm exploring and enjoying wheat-free breads like Udi's.
Flickr image courtesy of surlygirl